Lewis Hamilton Calls To ‘Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Syria, Free Palestine’ Amid F1’s Rwanda Grand Prix Controversy

Lewis Hamilton used a press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix to call for peace in conflict zones worldwide, as Formula 1 faces criticism for bringing a race to Rwanda.

“I think we need to make sure we’re pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine,” the seven-time world champion said during Thursday’s FIA press conference in Austin. “I think there’s a lot of peace that I’m hoping we get to at some stage.”

The 41-year-old Ferrari driver was asked how he felt about F1’s announcement last week that Rwanda had landed a 10-year deal to host the African Grand Prix starting in the early 2030s. Hamilton has campaigned for years for the sport to return to Africa, where it has not raced since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.

While welcoming the news, Hamilton acknowledged the concerns surrounding the host country and said the situation needed to be approached with humility.

“Of course, going doesn’t mean that you neglect the things that are happening there,” he said. “So hopefully many people start to educate themselves a little bit more about what is happening there, what has happened there for hundreds of years, and I hope that does spark the conversation.”

The British driver also criticized gaps in how the U.K. teaches African history.

“There’s a lot that we don’t know. Growing up in England, they never ever taught us anything about Africa,” he said.

F1 announced on Oct. 13 that the race will be held at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 25 miles south of the capital, Kigali, once construction is complete. Visit Rwanda, the country’s tourism brand, will present the event and also sponsors several major European soccer clubs.

F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali called the agreement “a landmark moment” for the sport. Rwandan officials have said the race will boost tourism, infrastructure and job creation.

The deal drew immediate backlash from human rights groups. Amnesty International accused F1 of handing Rwanda a “sportswashing prize,” with Amnesty UK campaigns chief Felix Jakens saying the country was using major sports to polish its image and deflect from its human rights record.

Critics have long accused President Paul Kagame‘s government of suppressing political opposition and independent media. The United Nations has also accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congolese officials have accused Rwanda of profiting from the illegal exploitation of Congolese minerals. Rwanda has denied supporting the rebels.

Hamilton’s remarks quickly spread on social media, where supporters praised him for using his platform to speak out. It is not the first time the Ferrari star has spoken out on issues beyond the track or weighed in on conflicts abroad. In 2023, ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi, he spoke about the loss of life in Gaza and said he was disappointed in how governments had handled the crisis.

Some reports also suggested Hamilton hinted he could extend his career to compete in the first African Grand Prix, though the race is not expected until at least 2030, when he would be in his mid-40s.

Hamilton is set to compete in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

Hamilton has been making headlines for his romance with Kim Kardashian, who attended his Singapore race this month.